Polishing FN's Questions!!! w/ PIX

[speedfiend]

Alright guys I have searched and have compiled all the materials I need in order to polish my 5-zigens. I had a couple questions first though. I started with the silver FN's that had some corrosion on them from one of my brake calipers seizing up on me. Anyways long story short the clear coat was already shot on the wheels. So first off I started by spraying them with aircraft stripper. It stripped the clear coat off as well as cleared up the corrosion from the caliper seizing. My question is since the wheels already look polished should I just wet sand them down with 2000 grit and then polish them or do I need to start at 400 and move up gradually even though they are practically already polished? Second questions is that on the insides of the spokes the surface is rough, should I just polish the face and leave the sides of the spokes the way they are or would that look awkward? Thanx for the input and the pix are located below so you get an idea of what im working with. Cameron
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1060738/DSC00544md.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1060738/DSC00547md.jpg

[rainier]

good question and i have no idea what the real answer is, but looks to me as the lip should be sanded down with a lower grit at first 2000 wont do anything when you said it down. looks really bad, id say start with something slightly lower. then work your way up and polish. BUT since its already polished, try to sand it with 2000 then start polishing. best bet is to just do both ways and see which way turns out better.

i dont thinki tll look that bad if you just polish the face of the spokes.

[1ZlowZ]

Yea just take the things off that look like water spots and go to the highest grit paper you can get. No need to start off from 400.

[speedfiend]

Alright thanx a lot guys. Ill prolly start on one with 2000 and see if that clears up the spots and if not then ill just go back with like 1200 or maybe even 800 and go up from there. Thanx for the quick responses guys. Cameron

[WagDatto]

Agreed, unless you have some scarring that needs to be taken off, start with higher grits and follow along the line.

[lost_generation]

best way to do it is....
80 grit
120 grit
320
500
600
800
1000
1500
2000
2500

then polish out by hand(i use mothers aluminum polish)

the end result will be amazing, and well worth the weekend of busting your fingers sanding


edit... btw, make sure after 400 grit to WET SAND, do NOT dry sand after 400... its bad for the paper/rims(will go through paper alot faster if you go dry)

[olah.inc]

why 80 - 500? thats to hard

start with 600 wet+ polish stuff

[steelbreeze]

you dont need to start off from 80........ thats only when you're removing curb rash and serious pitting from corrosion.

Wet sand with some 1200 grit and then polish with mothers. Wash it, re-apply and wash again.

Repeat this step until you get it looking the way you want, shouldnt have to re-apply and wash the polish more than 3 times.

[silviaguy240]

yea, no need for 80 at that level, 80 grit takes chrome off.

[gotta240]

Dumb question, but is there different paper for metal and wood?

Cause the 80 grit for wood is pretty damb rough

[steelbreeze]

^^

there is no different sandpaper for wood and metal.

[speedfiend]

Dumb question, but is there different paper for metal and wood?

Cause the 80 grit for wood is pretty damb rough

I wouldnt personally use that rough of a grit unless you have quite of major rash. As for my situation I just have a little bit of corrosion and very minimal clear coat left on the wheels so I feel if I go straight to the wet sanding with about 1200 grit then I should be good to go. If not then Ill go a little lower in grit. We shall see but I will definately keep you guys posted as to how it turns out. Thanx for all the responses. Cameron

[Pank]

to do the lip, throw the wheel on the car, on jackstands, and idle it in 5th gear and just hold the paper/polishing rag whatever on it. saves time

[gotta240]

to do the lip, throw the wheel on the car, on jackstands, and idle it in 5th gear and just hold the paper/polishing rag whatever on it. saves time


So smart, yet so much room for strait up DISASTER. Lol. Did you forget you are mentioning this on a website full of people who, for the most part, can't change their own tires when they get flats!?

Did you ever see that movie where the teanagers drove one of their fathers' car, and tried roll back the mileage the same way, but in reverse? Lol.

[Nismoknightska-t]

best way to do it is....
80 grit
120 grit
320
500
600
800
1000
1500
2000
2500

then polish out by hand(i use mothers aluminum polish)

the end result will be amazing, and well worth the weekend of busting your fingers sanding


edit... btw, make sure after 400 grit to WET SAND, do NOT dry sand after 400... its bad for the paper/rims(will go through paper alot faster if you go dry)

fuck that.. i just took my wheels to a local shop to get polished and they came out perfect!!

[Def]

I'd start with 400-600 grit, then step to 800-1000 grit, then finish up with some 1500-2000 grit. Then buff with metal polish and wax 'em.

If the pitting is really deep some 220 can be used in some spots, but it'll take a bit of 400-600 to get the swirls out.

[JVDSKYRINE]

to do the lip, throw the wheel on the car, on jackstands, and idle it in 5th gear and just hold the paper/polishing rag whatever on it. saves time

yeah i did that to mine works sooo good....cut my hands a couple times on my weirdo spoked rims....but turned out like new

i would ask guys on here how to keep them looking polished...i found once they got dirty i had to polish them every wash which was a hastle....so maybe there is a clear coat or something to use to keep them looking fresh

[R33GTS-T]

you could always have a clear powder coat shot onto the car after you’re done polishing them. Then all you have to do is wash them and call it a day

- Daniel

[TiNMAN]

best way to do it is....
80 grit
120 grit
320
500
600
800
1000
1500
2000
2500

then polish out by hand(i use mothers aluminum polish)

the end result will be amazing, and well worth the weekend of busting your fingers sanding


edit... btw, make sure after 400 grit to WET SAND, do NOT dry sand after 400... its bad for the paper/rims(will go through paper alot faster if you go dry)

what you smokin? share?

[lost_generation]

are you guys fuckin retarded? you cant just sand clear coat off with 800 grit... it takes for fuckin ever, get off your lazy ass's and do it the right way, you want the clear off 100% or your wheels will look like shit in the end, it will take alot less time starting with 80 and going up than going from 800... i guess some people havnt done this ever(i've done it many times on different types of rims(originally polished aluminum that had rock chips on it, stock rims, and fn's)

do it right, or dont do it at all

smokin only the best... u share?

[projekt_s13]

are you guys fuckin retarded? you cant just sand clear coat off with 800 grit... it takes for fuckin ever, get off your lazy ass's and do it the right way, you want the clear off 100% or your wheels will look like shit in the end, it will take alot less time starting with 80 and going up than going from 800... i guess some people havnt done this ever(i've done it many times on different types of rims(originally polished aluminum that had rock chips on it, stock rims, and fn's)

do it right, or dont do it at all

smokin only the best... u share?

Can you not read? The clear coat was removed with aircraft stripper.

[ByeByeSti]

if you hit those with 80 grit you should be shot.... 80 grit is so god damn gritty that it willl rip the shit out of those rims... 320 is even pushin it

[TiNMAN]

are you guys fuckin retarded? you cant just sand clear coat off with 800 grit... it takes for fuckin ever, get off your lazy ass's and do it the right way, you want the clear off 100% or your wheels will look like shit in the end, it will take alot less time starting with 80 and going up than going from 800... i guess some people havnt done this ever(i've done it many times on different types of rims(originally polished aluminum that had rock chips on it, stock rims, and fn's)

do it right, or dont do it at all

smokin only the best... u share?

MF, who sands wheels with 80 grit? fools who paint their shit the wrong way!

[silviaguy240]

MF, who sands wheels with 80 grit? fools who paint their shit the wrong way!

i do!!! but like i said


yea, no need for 80 at that level, 80 grit takes chrome off.

[TiNMAN]

i do!!! but like i said

what the heck do you guys paint your wheels with?? 80 grit is nutso on wheels, but i guess...whatevs.


edit: im done. hurry up and polish yo damn fn's

[projekt_s13]

My FN's are also like yours, brake fluid got the best of the bronze clear. I was thinking of stripping them with aircraft stripper also. I bought a paint gun to paint them but I might just polish them.

Keep us updated dude, I will be doing the same thing as soon as i get some spare money.

[silviaguy240]

what the heck do you guys paint your wheels with?? 80 grit is nutso on wheels, but i guess...whatevs.


edit: im done. hurry up and polish yo damn fn's

you missed my point and sarcasm....im sanding off CHROMEEEEEE with the 80 grit. chrome and nickle are pretty damn tough, copper comes off fairly easily. once i get everything down im hitting it with some higher grit to smooth out some, then sand blast then powder coat.

[speedfiend]

Yeah well chrome might be a different story but as I have mentioned twice now these are aluminum and the clear has already been COMPLETELY removed with aircraft stripper. Thanx for the back up from you other guys on this one. I am gonna start on one of my wheels tomorrow with 1000 and go from there and see how it turns out. Pix will be up as soon as I get some progress done tomorrow. Thanx for all the responses guys. Cameron

[VROOOM]

Did you ever see that movie where the teanagers drove one of their fathers' car, and tried roll back the mileage the same way, but in reverse? Lol.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

[pbcstylez]

what the heck do you guys paint your wheels with?? 80 grit is nutso on wheels, but i guess...whatevs.


edit: im done. hurry up and polish yo damn fn's

tin call me crazy but ive done 80 grit to remove clear coat before, mine came out just fine but i moved up thru the grades incrementally and took my time

but i had some crazy ass scratchs and etches as im the 3rd/4th owner of these wheels

[speedfiend]

Alright well I have been working all the time since I began this thread and wanted to start polishing my wheels. Anyways I had a free hour today to see what I could do. I started with 800grit wet but it just wasnt pulling out all the blemishes. So I went back and started with 400grit dry and that works perfect. I wasnt able to get the whole wheel done but got about halfway. I still need to devise a way to get into the gap between spoke and lip as well as get into the small grooves. Onto the pics.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1060738/DSC00550md.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1060738/DSC00549md.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1060738/DSC00548md.jpg

[DUSANMANDIC]

u need to start at somthing like 400 and work up to like a 2000 and then buff with a high speed buffer

[speedfiend]

I am starting with 400grit and moving up from there. If you read the post right above yours you would see that I tried the 800grit wet but it just wasnt enough so I went back down to the 400grit and will be going from there. Thanx for the input though. Hopefully I will actually have some spare time in the next day or two to actually get at least one wheel done. Cameron

[DUSANMANDIC]

oooooooooo slow down there flo rider dont get your panties in a bunch i read your shit i know what u said just letting u know i have down a lil bit of this at work

[Def]

Do the 400 grit wet too, it'll keep the paper from getting clogged as quickly.

If it's taking a long time you might try to drop down to something like 320 grit to speed things up. The higher grits will take out the swirls.

[wowitsaboy]

320 grit, to 400 grit then hemp cutting wheel w/ black cutting ruge on a .5hp electric table mounted "buffer", run that till you got all the pits out (dimples in the metal) then repeat the "buffing" process again with a polishing wheel (made from a soft fabric-like material) using polishing ruge(should be millitary like green). if done right should yield a chrome like reflective surface. its worked great for me.

[godzillarb]

Quit slacking and get to sanding man! I think spraying these rims bronze / gold would look pretty sick with your car if you give up on polishing.

[speedfiend]

Hhahaha thanx for the input guys.
DUSANMANDIC: Sorry to come off pissy its just been a long week at work.
godzillarb: Hahahah if I get a day off work I will. But now im more interested in getting my motor put together so this will have to take a back seat for about a week or so. And yeah if I find that I dont feel like polishing them then Ill prolly just have them powder coated something. Im just trying to curve my wants to buy new rims.

Thanx for all the comments guys. Cameron